Transmission Trouble: Ideas Please

Hello,

The car in question is a 1963 Mercury Meteor.

We have been working on bolting my C4 Tranny to my 221 V8. Everything lines up, but we are struggling to get the transmission to meet the engine completely. We end up with a gap of about an inch between the engine and the bell-housing.

The transmission was originally paired with a 260. There is some thought that the difference in engine length could be causing a problem and therefore creating a need for a spacer to fill the gap.

We have also considered that the torque converter may not be properly in place and that does not seem to be the problem.

I'm not sure if the problem I explained makes much sense, but I'm hoping someone out there can lend an idea or two.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

If the trans, bell housing and flexplate all came together and fit before, it's most likely that the converter is just not seated. Otherwise, Ford did have different bell housing lengths and that stuff can be interesting.

 

Those older converters look like they will slide in four ways. They will only fit one or two ways. Locate the drain plug and make sure it lines up with a drain plug hole. Wiggle the converter up and down gently while pushing back. When the trans case hits the dowel pins, you may have to wiggle the tail up and down while pushing to the front. Pulling it in with a bolt and an impact is a great way to break the bell housing.

 

Yep, your torque converter isn't in all the way. If you try and force it you'll muck the thing up. Turn it, a little bit at a time pushing in after each turn. Finally it will line up and slip into place. You can usually feel 3 steps as they go in. They almost NEVER go all the way in, in one step.

 

Yep, that's been my experience with Ford automatics. Ask me how I know.

 

Yep. Been there.

 

Was it standard trans before.? Did you check bushing size in the crank? Sure sounds like converter isn't seated somewhere. Jack

 

If the crank bushing for a standard trans is still in the crank that will stop you. A good rule for the torque converter being seated to the trans is that you will not be able to slide your hand between the bell and converter when the converter is seated.

 

Are you using a 5 bolt bell housing for that 5 bolt engine??


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Thanks everyone for your input. It sounds like we need to take another look at that TC to make sure it is where is suppose to be. Hopefully that will do the trick.

We are using a five bolt bell housing for the five bolt engine.


Thanks again!